ADÈLE AND SIMON
By Barbara McClintock
Farrar, Straus and Giroux, 2006
Category: Picture book
Okie, Dokie Artichokies … I need your help.
Barbara McClintock’s fabulous picture book ADÈLE AND SIMON was among the New York Times Best Illustrated Books of 2006. (The list was published in a special supplement on Sunday and can be viewed online here.) As you may recall, one of the Burns children received this book as a birthday gift about a month ago. There is a whole lot to love about this book, not the least of which is the seek-and-find pleasures throughout. In each double-page spread, Simon loses something—his drawing, his books, his scarf, his gloves, his hat, his CRAYONS, his knapsack, his coat, and his sweater—and the reader gets to find it. Delicious. But here’s the thing: we can’t find Simon’s yellow crayon.
Early on the entire family was in on the hunt, but after several lengthy scouring sessions, the kids gave up. I kept the book in my office and methodically scanned the Louvre spread a few times with a magnifying glass (I kid you not) looking for the pesky yellow crayon. Red, blue and black are easily found. Yellow? No dice. Can’t find it. It isn’t there.
Or is it?
Now that ADÈLE AND SIMON is in the limelight, I am searching with renewed energy. I have got to find that crayon! Do help me if you can. I have so many other things that I should be doing …
PS. A Fuse#8 Production posted a fabulous review of ADELE AND SIMON; check it out.
PS2. Okie, Dokie Artichokie is the name of a picture book by Grace Lin. We’ve loved it forever and the title phrase has become a favorite saying around here.